By Zweli Martin Dlamini

Recently, I had to stop selling my cow in the Lubombo Region due to “foot and mouth” travel restrictions, the butchery owners said I must wait and they will inform me once Government lifts the restrictions seeking to control the livestock disease.

But King Mswati was seen accepting cattle as part of “tetfulo” for Incwala ceremony, allowing cattle to travel from the four (4) Regions of the country to Engabezweni Royal Residence was in complete violation or disregard of the “foot and mouth” restrictions seeking to protect our cattle.

But it is surprising to note that, Mswati’s Incwala ceremony seems to be above the law even on serious issues like the “foot and mouth” eradication and control program, our cattle must die because one man wants to dance Incwala and feed his eMabutfo?.

As previously mentioned, the King is free to dance Incwala but we must learn to respect the country’s laws and regulations seeking to help us, the “foot and mouth” travel restrictions form part of the Government efforts to fight the disease and we must all respect that.

King Mswati must learn to lead this country by example, he was supposed to accept cash and other gifts as “tetfulo” not cattle amid foot and mouth restrictions.

Worth-noting, thousands of emaSwati died during the COVID-19 pandemic after attending Incwala just because Mswati wanted to perform rituals, the Ministry of Health had to relax the regulations and sacrifice lives and all this, just for one man to perform rituals.

But King Mswati at a very young age, played a  significant role in fighting HIV/AIDS when declaring the virus “Indzaba yetfu sonkhe”, he acted like a leader.

But now, we are fighting foot and mouth and hereby appeal for his support in regard, he must not be seen endangering emaSwati’s cattle.

Incwala is the King’s ritual ceremony and we must not be made to suffer because of another man’s ceremony, let’s respect the law and regulations seeking to protect our cattle, as citizens of this country.

King’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane told this publication that, the cattle were tested before traveling to Palace, perhaps those who tested the King’s cattle can assist us as well, we are grounded with our cattle.